Automatic cut-off for water-pipes



(No Model.)

' G. P. HERNDON.

AUTOMATIC GUT-OFF FOR WATER PIPES.

No. 392,803. Patented Nov, 13, 1888.

Nrrn STATES GEOBGEP. I-IEENDON, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

AUTOMATIC CUT==OFF FOR ATER PIPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,803, dated November 1.3, 1888.

Application filed September 6, 1887. Serial No. 218,958. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. Hnmvnou, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, haveinventcd new and useful Improvements in Automatic Out-Offs for \Vater- Mains, ofwhich the following is a specification. This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices for operating the valves of water-pipes, and relates more particularly to that class in which are employed a weighted lever connected with the stem of the valve,a thermodynamic column, and connections between said column and valve-stem, whereby an automatic cut-off is provided and the freezing of the water in the pipes prevented by emptying the service-pipe and its branches whenever the temperature shall reach a given point approximating the freezing-point.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and cheapeu devices of this class and to lessen the number of parts, thereby rendering the device more certain in its action and reducing to a minimum inefficiency from nonworking of the parts.

The novelty resides in the peculiarities of construction and the new combinations and arrangement of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, showing my invention; and Fig. 2 is a detail perspective of a portion of the service-pipe shown in Fig. 1, with the auto matic cut-off and draw-off attached.

Referring now to the details of the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a portion of the service-pipe of a dwelling or building of any suitable description. Interposed in this pipe, at any suitable point, is a valve-box, 2, containing any preferred form of valve or cutoff, that shown being a three-way valve, 3, having a water-way, 1. Cut diametrically in the valve and at right angles to the water-way is a passage, 5, entering the valve-way 4., a spout, 6, being tapped into the valve-box upon the side A valve-stem, 7, proopposite the passage 5.

jects through the wall of the valve-box and receives the end of an actuating-lever,8,which is weighted in any suitable manner-as, for example, by broadening the lever toward its outer extremity. The end of the lever is pro vided witha detent, 9.

Upon any suitable support, 10, in proximity to the pipe 1, is mounted a bracket, 11, upon which stands a thermodynamic column, 12, of any suitable construction and material, the form preferred being a closed brass tube, which gives strength and lightness as well as economy of material, yet is very efficient for the purpose. Directly to the upper end or extremity of this column is pivotally connected the short arm or power end of the lever 13, having its fulcrum 14 upon the support 10, and provided at tlie'other end with an eye, 15, which engages the detent 9 on the lever 8, the length of the lever being such that when the engagement is made the valvelever 8 will stand at an angle with the perpendicular, as shown in Fig. 1, and be sustained in that position by the eye 15 on the lever 18.

Upon a fall of temperature the column 12 contracts, raising the eye 15 uponthe end of the lever 13, and when the contraction is sufficient releases the valve-lever. The weight upon the latter causes it to fall, thereby closing the valve 3 and bringing the passage 5 into communication with the service-pipe and with the spout 6. The water contained in the pipe above the valve will run off through this passage and spout, quickly emptying the pipe and its branches.

A series of openings, 14, are formed in the lever 13,to engage with the removable fulcrumpin 14 and enable the user to vary the acting distance of said lever, thereby adjusting the device to operate and release the valve-lever 8 at any given temperature.

The device is simple and inexpensive, certain in action, and not at all liable to get out of order or to deteriorate in use.

Importance is attached to the peculiar arrangement of parts whereby a more positive action is provided, dispensing with the sleeve and other accessories heretofore necessary,and bringing the lever 13 in direct engagement with the lever 8, whereby the contraction of the column 12 cannot fail to release the lever 18 from engagement with thelever 8 and operate the valve.

\Vhat I claim as new is 1. The combination, with a service-pipe and a thermodynamic column, of a lever, 13, con nccted at one end directly to the upper end of said eolumn,a valve in said pipe, and a weighted lever mounted at one end on the stem of said valve and its other end extended to and engaging the long arm of the lever 13, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the serviee'pipe and a three-way valve therein, of the thermodynamic column, the pivoted lever 13, having; its short arm pivotal] y connected directly to said column, the eye 15 at the end of thelong arm of said lever, and the lever 8, mounted at one end on the stem of said valve and formed at its other end with a detent, 9, engaging directl y with said eye, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

3, The combination, with the service-pipe and the valve therein, of the support 10, the metallic column parallel with the service-pipe, the weighted lever 8 on the stem of the valve and formed at its other end with detent 9, the lever 13, attached to the upper end of the said column and provided with a plurality of holes, 14, the removable pivot-pin 14, and the eye 15 on the outer end of the lever 13 and engaging directly the detent on the lever 8, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. P. IIERNDON.

YVitnesses:

JAMES L. Nonms, J. A. RUTHERFORD. 

